Otis College of Art & Design

Otis College is a four-year, private college in Los Angeles, CA.  We offer both BFA and MFA programs in the Art and Design fields.

Check out the “Otis at a Glance” section of our website here, and a quick video to get a taste of Otis! Also check out our Veterans page and “Student Veterans at Otis” video here.  

We think it is important for you to hear from a student perspective. To chat with a current Otis student who is a veteran, go here!

Undergraduate Programs (BFA)

First-year students start in the Foundation program, which is a year of exploration and honing your skills. Then students start in their major program in the second year. 

• Architecture / Landscape / Interiors

• Communication Arts - Graphic Design, Illustration

• Digital Media - Animation, Game & Entertainment Design, Motion Design

• Fashion Design

• Fine Arts - Painting, Photography, Sculpture/New Genres

• Product Design

• Toy Design

We also have 19 different minors to choose from:

• Advertising Design

• Art History

• Book Arts

• Community Arts Engagement

• Contemporary Clay

• Creative Writing

• Digital Media

• Entrepreneurship

• Graphic Design

• Illustration

• Interior Design

• Landscape Design

• Painting

• Photography

• Printmaking

• Product Design

• Sculpture/New Genres

• Sustainability

• Teacher Credential Preparation 

Graduate Programs (MFA)

You’ll develop your craft in a rigorous, supportive environment that provides a strong intellectual foundation for your future as a professional artist or designer.

• Fine Arts

• Fine Arts, Emphasis in Art + Social Practice

• Graphic Design

Otis College Veteran & Military Support Programs

Otis College accepts the following veteran and military support programs:

• Post 9/11 GI Bill / Yellow Ribbon Program Ch33

• The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Program

• The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) Ch35

• Montgomery GI Bill Ch30

• Montgomery GI Bill- Select Reserve Ch1606

• Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) Ch1607

• Vocational Rehabilitation Ch31

If you are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, we will also require the DD214 and Request For Participation in Yellow Ribbon Program form

All Veterans and Veteran Dependents qualify for a Veteran Fee Waiver when you apply, so you will bypass the $50 application fee. 

Preparation for a Creative Career

California is the 5th largest economy in the world, and Los Angeles has one of the largest creative communities in the world. There are 792,600 creative jobs in the LA region according to the Otis Report on the Creative Economy that the College jointly issues each year. https://www.otis.edu/los-angeles

Otis students are a part of this community, which creates opportunities for learning in and out of the classroom, internship experiences, and job opportunities.  1 in 7 jobs in the LA Region are Creative Industry jobs.  We can also hire the best faculty from a vast array of working professionals. 

The Otis Report on the Creative Economy chronicles the creative economy of Los Angeles and California through five creative industries through eight regions of the state.  You can learn more here!

Our Career Services department collaborates with faculty from each major to ensure that Otis students are prepared for internship and job opportunities. Career Services offers: 

• Unlimited one-on-one career counseling appointments

• Specialized career workshops year-round 

• Employer Recruiting and Information Sessions

• Online Job & Internship Board with a over 3,300 new opportunities posted in the last year

• Special career events, Intern Recruitment Day, panel discussions, industry workshops and info sessions

• Career assessments

• Strategic partnerships with companies, organizations and private foundations to support scholarships, mentoring programs, internship funding, and more

• Academic Partnerships across Otis, plus courses in business and professional practices in every major

• Graduates of Otis College have access to Career Services for life!

Of the Class of 2019, 93.5% were employed or in graduate school within 1 year of graduation, and 94% of graduates are working in art and design fields. This speaks to how well prepared Otis graduates are to enter the working world!

About Our Community

Otis is ranked #10 in the nation for student diversity. We are a small, intimate community, yet very diverse.  Students are surrounded by peers who have different backgrounds, life experiences, etc. from each other. Students learn just as much from each other as they do from faculty. (Ranking by Chronicle of Higher Education)

We have students from all over the country, and about 26% international students. About 24% of our students are first-generation college students, and about 28% of our students are transfer students. Otis has a student-faculty ratio of 6:1, so students receive lots of individualized attention, and your faculty members are very accessible.

Getting Ready to Apply

Learn more about the application requirements for each of our programs here. 

All Veterans and Veteran Dependents qualify for a Veteran Fee Waiver when you apply, so you will bypass the $50 application fee. Feel free to connect with Otis Admissions to learn more! 

Otis Admissions recruits a global community of diverse, multidisciplinary creatives by providing individualized support, fostering inclusivity, empowering students to make informed decisions, and granting equitable access to Otis College's BFA and MFA programs.

Contact our Veterans Admissions Counselor:

Valerie Diaz | vdiaz@otis.edu | 310.665.6818